African art > Used objects, pulleys, boxes, loom, awale > Mbole currency

Mbole currency (N° 17626)

The blade of the sword, weapon of prestige then currency of transaction, carries in its center of weak traces of hammered reasons. The contours are irregular, the patina oxidized rusty orange.
In Africa, before the colonial period, payments were never made in coins. Transactions were made by means of cowrie shells, pearls, cattle, kola nuts, but also metals, especially iron. These primitive currencies were used for commercial and social exchanges, particularly for dowries, but could also be used as parade objects or throwing weapons. In Sierra Leone, goods were valued in relation to iron bars called barriferri. The king usually controlled the production or delivery of the kingdom's currency. The variety of these metal forms is wide, and they sometimes take the form of particularly aesthetic non-figurative sculptures.  

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OriginEx-collection belge
EthnyMbole
CountryCongo
Material(s)fer, wood
Height cm49
Width10 cm
Weight0.56 Kg
Estimated datingmid-xxème
Socle includedYes

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